Felix Contrerashttp://whqr.org
enHow Santería Seeped Into Latin Musichttp://whqr.org/post/how-santer-seeped-latin-music
<em>All this week, </em>Morning Edition<em> is talking about drums and drummers. The third installment in "Beat Week" explores the beats used in Afro-Cuban Santería ceremonies. Our guide is Felix Contreras, co-host of NPR's </em>Alt.Latino<em> podcast and an Afro-Cuban drummer himself.</em><p><em>Note: This piece is better heard than read. For examples of the music and a drumming demonstration, listen at the audio link.</em><p><hr /><p>If you wanted to put it in extremely simple terms, you could call Santería a mashup of mythology from west and central Africa and Christianity.Wed, 07 Jan 2015 07:03:00 +0000Felix Contreras66289 at http://whqr.orgHow Santería Seeped Into Latin MusicMoreno's 'El Burrito Sabanero', Welcomed Update To A Holiday Songhttp://whqr.org/post/morenos-el-burrito-sabanero-welcomed-update-holiday-song
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Moreno%27s+%27El+Burrito+Sabanero%27%2C+Welcomed+Update+To+A+Holiday+Song&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxODc0NzU5MDEyMTgyMDUxMzlkN2IzMw004)"/></div><p>Tue, 23 Dec 2014 10:05:00 +0000Felix Contreras65667 at http://whqr.orgEthereal Jazz Singer Jimmy Scott Dies http://whqr.org/post/ethereal-jazz-singer-jimmy-scott-dies
Singer <a href="http://www.npr.org/artists/15395174/little-jimmy-scott" target="_blank">Jimmy Scott</a> died of natural causes Thursday morning at his home in Las Vegas at age 88, according to his booking agent, Jean-Pierre Leduc. <p>Scott suffered from Kallmann's syndrome, a lifelong affliction that prevented his body from maturing through puberty. The condition slowed his growth, leaving his stature at 4 feet 11 inches until his late 30s.Fri, 13 Jun 2014 21:30:00 +0000Felix Contreras56487 at http://whqr.orgEthereal Jazz Singer Jimmy Scott Dies The Grateful Dead's Ultimate 'Dark Star' To Be Reissuedhttp://whqr.org/post/grateful-deads-ultimate-dark-star-be-reissued
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMGUQTK8tXw</p>Tue, 06 May 2014 19:20:00 +0000Felix Contreras54496 at http://whqr.orgThe Grateful Dead's Ultimate 'Dark Star' To Be ReissuedPaco De Lucia, Modern Superstar Of Flamenco, Dieshttp://whqr.org/post/paco-de-lucia-modern-superstar-flamenco-dies
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oyhlad64-s</p>Wed, 26 Feb 2014 22:28:00 +0000Felix Contreras51087 at http://whqr.orgPaco De Lucia, Modern Superstar Of Flamenco, DiesMarian McPartland, 'Piano Jazz' Host, Has Diedhttp://whqr.org/post/marian-mcpartland-piano-jazz-host-has-died
<a href="http://www.npr.org/artists/15123605/marian-mcpartland">Marian McPartland</a>, who gave the world an intimate, insider's perspective on one of the most elusive topics in music — jazz improvisation — died of natural causes Tuesday night at her home in Long Island, N.Y. She was 95.<p>For more than 40 years, she hosted <a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/piano-jazz/">Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz</a>, an NPR program pairing conversation and duet performances that reached an audience of millions, connecting with jazz fans and the curious alike.Wed, 21 Aug 2013 11:04:00 +0000Felix Contreras41796 at http://whqr.orgMarian McPartland, 'Piano Jazz' Host, Has Died'A Walking Encyclopedia Of Rhythms': Remembering Steve Berrioshttp://whqr.org/post/walking-encyclopedia-rhythms-remembering-steve-berrios
It is not easy to play both jazz drum set and Afro-Caribbean percussion. Lots of drummers do it, but few have mastered it in a way that makes their sound in either style unmistakable from the first beat.<p>The music community lost one of those true innovators Wednesday with the death of percussionist Steve Berrios in New York at age 68. Berrios could move seamlessly from jazz to Afro-Cuban rhythms in a way that perfectly reflected his bicultural roots.<p>Berrios was a true Nuevoriqueño, born in New York in 1945 to parents who had recently arrived from Puerto Rico.Mon, 29 Jul 2013 21:30:00 +0000Felix Contreras40591 at http://whqr.org'A Walking Encyclopedia Of Rhythms': Remembering Steve BerriosJesse & Joy, Juanes Win Big At Latin Grammyshttp://whqr.org/post/jesse-joy-juanes-win-big-latin-grammys
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2hM9CLAMu4</p>Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:52:00 +0000Felix Contreras27431 at http://whqr.orgJesse & Joy, Juanes Win Big At Latin GrammysLatin Music That Breaks Barriers And Pushes Boundarieshttp://whqr.org/post/latin-music-breaks-barriers-and-pushes-boundaries
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axAgWrf5WJY</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1MAJnjIapE</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7EWTJxlAcc</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15M8-mT_5C4</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvTkk_gLzEg</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlKOXxZ3_MU</p>Thu, 21 Jun 2012 18:26:00 +0000Felix Contreras19111 at http://whqr.orgLatin Music That Breaks Barriers And Pushes BoundariesMariachi El Bronx: Tiny Desk Concerthttp://whqr.org/post/mariachi-el-bronx-tiny-desk-concert
Being a mariachi is a specialized gig. You might be able to fool people who don't know the music by wearing those tight pants and little jackets and playing with lots of vibrato. But hardcore mariachi fans will call you out in a minute if you try to fake it.<p>Mariachi El Bronx never has to worry about being called out. Though the group's members started out and still perform as the L.A. punk band The Bronx, they've managed to reinvent themselves with exceptional authenticity.Thu, 21 Jun 2012 12:03:00 +0000Felix Contreras19063 at http://whqr.orgMariachi El Bronx: Tiny Desk Concert